--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The hypotheses which we accept ought to…" description: "\"The hypotheses which we accept ought to explain phenomena which we have observed. But they ought to do more than this; our hypotheses ought to foretell..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/799/william-whewell-17887_acceptance_the-hypotheses-which-we-accept-ought-to_2484821.png" --- # The hypotheses which we accept ought to explain phenomena… ![“The hypotheses which we accept ought to explain phenomena which we have observed. But they ought to do more than this; our hypotheses ought to foretell phenomena which have not yet been observed; ... because if the rule prevails, it includes all cases; and will determine them all, if we can only…” quote by William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/799/william-whewell-17887_acceptance_the-hypotheses-which-we-accept-ought-to_2484821.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/799/william-whewell-17887_acceptance_the-hypotheses-which-we-accept-ought-to_2484821.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/799/william-whewell-17887_acceptance_the-hypotheses-which-we-accept-ought-to_2484821.png) > “The hypotheses which we accept ought to explain phenomena which we have observed. But they ought to do more than this; our hypotheses ought to foretell phenomena which have not yet been observed; ... because if the rule prevails, it includes all cases; and will determine them all, if we can only calculate its real consequences. Hence it will predict the results of new combinations, as well as explain the appearances which have occurred in old ones. And that it does this with certainty and correctness, is one mode in which the hypothesis is to be verified as right and useful.” [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A good hypothesis must both explain known data and reliably predict new, unobserved phenomena. **In simple terms:** Hypotheses should explain and predict. Key Takeaway Test predictions to validate theories. Themes science methodology prediction Mood analytical inquisitive Type epistemic practical When to use this quote - research design - experimental planning - model building - risk assessment Key Concepts induction verification theory formation Questions to Reflect On - How can we assess a hypothesis’s predictive power? - What limits the certainty of scientific predictions? A Different Perspective Predictions may fail due to unknown variables or incomplete data. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Appearance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearance/) [Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Combination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/combination/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Correctness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/correctness/) [Determine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determine/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence/) [Hypotheses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypotheses/) [Hypotheses Accept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypotheses-accept-903721/) [Hypotheses Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypotheses-ought-903720/) [Hypothesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypothesis/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Ought Hypotheses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought-hypotheses-903722/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [The hypotheses we accept ought to explain phenomena which we have observed. But they ought to do more than this: our hypotheses ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-hypotheses-we-accept-ought-to-explain-phenomena-which-we-have/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [Beware of the problem of testing too many hypotheses; the more you torture the data, the more likely they are to confess, but confessions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stigler/beware-of-the-problem-of-testing-too-many-hypotheses-the-more-you/) [Stephen Stigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stigler/) > [Progress is achieved by exchanging our theories for new ones which go further than the old, until we find one based on a larger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/progress-is-achieved-by-exchanging-our-theories-for-new-ones-which-go/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [The number of hypotheses available to explain any given phenomenon is infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-number-of-hypotheses-available-to-explain-any-given-phenomenon-is/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Whenever two hypotheses cover the facts, use the simpler of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-of-ockham/whenever-two-hypotheses-cover-the-facts-use-the-simpler-of-the-two/) [William of Ockham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-of-ockham/) > [... no scientific worker has a fixed level of significance at which from year to year, and in all circumstances, he rejects hypotheses; he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-fisher/no-scientific-worker-has-a-fixed-level-of-significance-at-which-from/) [Ronald Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-fisher/) > [Unfortunately, in the field of evolution most explanations are not good. As a matter of fact, they hardly qualify as explanations at all; they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-macbeth/unfortunately-in-the-field-of-evolution-most-explanations-are-not/) [Norman Macbeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-macbeth/) > [The physicist can never subject an isolated hypothesis to experimental test, but only a whole group of hypotheses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-duhem/the-physicist-can-never-subject-an-isolated-hypothesis-to/) [Pierre Duhem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-duhem/) > [Better our hypotheses die for our errors than ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/better-our-hypotheses-die-for-our-errors-than-ourselves/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [I feign no hypotheses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/i-feign-no-hypotheses/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Hypotheses are the scaffolds which are erected in front of a building and removedd when the building is completed. They are indispensable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/hypotheses-are-the-scaffolds-which-are-erected-in-front-of-a-building/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [We are sorry to confess that biological hypotheses have not yet completely got out of the second phase, and that ghost of ‘vital force’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-buchner/we-are-sorry-to-confess-that-biological-hypotheses-have-not-yet/) [Ludwig Buchner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-buchner/) > [Hypotheses non fingo. I frame no hypotheses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/hypotheses-non-fingo-i-frame-no-hypotheses/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [In science, each new result, sometimes quite surprising, heralds a step forward and allows one to discard some hypotheses, even though one or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-b-prusiner/in-science-each-new-result-sometimes-quite-surprising-heralds-a-step/) [Stanley B. Prusiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-b-prusiner/) > [Whether statistics be an art or a science... or a scientific art, we concern ourselves little. It is the basis of social and political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolphe-quetelet/whether-statistics-be-an-art-or-a-science-or-a-scientific-art-we/) [Adolphe Quetelet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolphe-quetelet/) ## More by William Whewell > [In order that the facts obtained by observation and experiment may be capable of being used in furtherance of our exact and solid knowledge,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/in-order-that-the-facts-obtained-by-observation-and-experiment-may-be/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [“And so no force however great can stretch a cord however fine into a horizontal line that shall be absolutely straight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/and-so-no-force-however-great-can-stretch-a-cord-however-fine-into-a/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [We cannot observe external things without some degree of Thought; nor can we reflect upon our Thoughts, without being influenced in the course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/we-cannot-observe-external-things-without-some-degree-of-thought-nor/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [The catastrophist constructs theories, the uniformitarian demolishes them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-catastrophist-constructs-theories-the-uniformitarian-demolishes/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [The system becomes more coherent as it is further extended. The elements which we require for explaining a new class of facts are already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-system-becomes-more-coherent-as-it-is-further-extended-the/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [The present generation finds itself the heir of a vast patrimony of science; and it must needs concern us to know the steps by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-present-generation-finds-itself-the-heir-of-a-vast-patrimony-of/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [The object of science is knowledge; the objects of art are works. In art, truth is the means to an end; in science, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-object-of-science-is-knowledge-the-objects-of-art-are-works-in/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [The person who did most to give to analysis the generality and symmetry which are now its pride, was also the person who made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-person-who-did-most-to-give-to-analysis-the-generality-and/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [...the question undoubtedly is, or soon will be, not whether or no we shall employ notation in chemistry, but whether we shall use a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-question-undoubtedly-is-or-soon-will-be-not-whether-or-no-we/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [We need very much a name to describe a cultivator of science in general. I should incline to call him a scientist. \[The first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/we-need-very-much-a-name-to-describe-a-cultivator-of-science-in/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [The earlier truths are not expelled but absorbed, not contradicted but extended; and the history of each science, which may thus appear like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-earlier-truths-are-not-expelled-but-absorbed-not-contradicted-but/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [Astronomy is ... the only progressive Science which the ancient world produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/astronomy-is-the-only-progressive-science-which-the-ancient-world/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [Every failure is a step to success. 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Every detection of what is false directs us towards what is true: every trial exhausts some tempting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/every-failure-is-a-step-to-success-every-detection-of-what-is-false-2/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) [Explore all 36 William Whewell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. 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